The Science and Technology Facilities Council is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and global security. The Council has a broad science portfolio and works with the academic and industrial communities to share its expertise in materials science, space and ground-based astronomy technologies, laser science, microelectronics, wafer scale manufacturing, particle and nuclear physics, alternative energy production, radio communications and radar.
STFC enables UK researchers to access leading international science facilities by funding membership of international bodies including European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). STFC is one of seven publicly-funded research councils. It is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
AWE plays a crucial role in our nation’s defence by providing and maintaining warheads for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and delivers advice and guidance on a 24/7 basis to UK government in the area of national security. We are a centre of scientific, engineering and technological excellence, with some of the most advanced research, design and production facilities in the world. AWE is contracted to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) through a Government owned- contractor-operated (GOCO) arrangement. While our sites and facilities remain in government ownership, their management, day-to-day operations and maintenance of Britain’s nuclear stockpile is contracted to a private company: AWE Management Limited (AWE ML). AWE ML is a consortium comprising three partners: Jacobs Engineering Group, the Lockheed Martin Corporation and Serco Group plc.
First Light Fusion - Powering a world worth inheriting
Using the starting point of the only natural example of inertial plasma confinement, First Light Fusion is demonstrating a practical pathway to fusion energy, the ultimate source of energy in the universe. With cutting edge simulations, innovative pulsed power technology, world class experimental design, and agile planning systems, First Light has made rapid progress that promises to unlock a pathway to energy gain and so to power generation. By using a projectile driver and proprietary advanced target designs, First Light moves the complexity inherent in other fusion projects from the machine to the target, minimising the plant construction cost and offering the world a future with clean, abundant energy that is cost-competitive with existing power generation methods.
Student travel sponsors
French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)